Crassula plant named ‘Crasmada’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Crassula  cultivar named ‘Crasmada’ which is characterized by the combination of dark green foliage, incurved margin deflection, an upward curling of the distal portion of the lamina, large foliage, a large plant size, and the stability of all characteristics from generation to generation. The new variety is a  Crassula , typically produced as an indoor ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Crassula ovata (Mill.)Druce.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Crassula disclosed hereinhas been given the variety denomination ‘Crasmada’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rightsapplication number 2014/3155, filed Nov. 27, 2014, which is hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: The Crassula variety ‘Crasmada’ originated as a naturallyoccurring, partial-plant mutation of Crassula ‘Minova Magic’ (unpatentedin the United States, Community Plant Breeder's Rights No. EU37471), avariety developed and owned by the inventor. The inventor of ‘Crasmada’is a commercial ornamental plant producer and regularly discovers branchand leaf mutations of Crassula ‘Minova Magic’ at his greenhouseoperation in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. For said mutations which seemto exhibit commercial potential, cuttings are taken to produce trialplants which are subsequently grown for evaluation. Several of suchmutations were isolated for evaluation based on dark green coloration ofthe leaf, in combination with other desirable characteristics.

The variety now called ‘Crasmada’ was initially discovered in 2011 asone such branch mutation of ‘Minova Magic’. At the time of discovery,cuttings were taken and the resulting plants were evaluated at theinventor's greenhouse. After further evaluation it was determined thatthe candidate's dark green foliage, incurved margin deflection, andupwardly curled leaf would prove favorable for commercial marketability.The new variety was given the breeder denomination ‘Crasmada’.

Asexual Reproduction: ‘Crasmada’ was first asexually propagated by stemcuttings in October of 2011 at a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, TheNetherlands and has since been vegetatively propagated through sixadditional generation. Through subsequent generations, the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Crasmada’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and the phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘Crasmada’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘Crasmada’ as a new and distinct Crassula cultivar:

-   -   1. Crassula ‘Crasmada’ exhibits dark green foliage; and    -   2. Crassula ‘Crasmada’ exhibits incurved margin deflection; and    -   3. Crassula ‘Crasmada’ exhibits an upward curling of the distal        portion of the lamina; and,    -   4. Crassula ‘Crasmada’ exhibits large foliage; and    -   5. Crassula ‘Crasmada’ exhibits a large overall plant size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of‘Crasmada’ grown in a grown in a commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, TheNetherlands. This plant is approximately 12 months old, shown planted ina 12 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage of‘Crasmada’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements describe a twelve month-old‘Crasmada’ plant grown in 12 cm nursery pots at a commercial greenhousein Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The plants were grown in full sun tosemi-shade. Plants were maintained with a standard fertility program forplants of this type and regularly watered with overhead irrigation aswell as through use of ebb-and-flow hydroponic greenhouse benches. Nochemical pest measures were taken.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘Crasmada’ hasnot been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climactic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘Crasmada’ and comparisons with othervarieties of Crassula are provided below.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Broad upright, overall shape obovate.        -   Average height.—19.1 cm from the soil level to the highest            leaf.        -   Plant spread.—Average of 18.0 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate; approximately 2 cm per month.        -   Propagation type.—Stem cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 14 days to initiate            roots at temperatures ranging from 15 to 20 degrees Celsius.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 6 weeks to            produce a rooted cutting.        -   Disease resistance.—Similar to other Crassula varieties.        -   Temperature tolerances.—Tolerates temperatures ranging from            approximately 12 to 45 degrees Celsius.-   Root system:    -   -   General.—Thin; moderately fibrous.        -   Texture.—Not fleshy.        -   Color.—Greyed-Orange RHS 166C.-   Stem:    -   -   General branching habit.—Moderately free branching; apical            pruning will induce branching.        -   Quantity of lateral branches.—Approximately 7.        -   Length of lateral branches.—Approximately 7.6 cm.        -   Diameter of lateral branches.—Approximately 1.1 cm.        -   Internode length.—Approximately 1.9 cm.        -   Texture.—Glabrous and very slight glossiness.        -   Stength.—Strong.        -   Color.—Juvenile stems are green near RHS 137B, and mature            stems are greyed-brown, near RHS 199B to 199D.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Abundance; density.—8 paired leaves per lateral branch;            approximately 60 leaves per plant.        -   Lamina.—Dimensions — 5.2 cm long (including the leaf sheath)            and 3.1 cm wide. Thickness — Approximately 0.5 cm. Shape of            blade — Obovate; slightly twisted with distal one-third to            one-half of lamina curled upward. Aspect — Leaves are 90            degrees to the stem. Apex — Broad acute. Base — Cuneate.            Margin — Entire; incurved deflection. Texture of top surface            — Glabrous, glossy. Texture of bottom surface — Glabrous,            glossy. Color — Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Green to            yellow-green, in between near RHS 143B and 144A. Juvenile            foliage, abaxial surface — Green near RHS 143B. Mature            foliage, adaxial surface — Green to yellow-green, near RHS            147A; densely and finely dotted with lenticels, colored            greyed-green near RHS 195A and 195B. Mature foliage, abaxial            surface — Green to yellow-green, near RHS 147A; densely and            finely dotted with lenticels, colored greyed-green near RHS            195A and 195B. Venation — No veins are visible.        -   Petiole.—No petioles present, leaves sessile.-   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANTS

‘Crasmada’ is similar in many horticultural characteristics to itsparent plant, Crassula ‘Minova Magic’. However ‘Crasmada’ differs from‘Minova Magic’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. The foliage color of ‘Crasmada’ is dark green, whereas the        foliage color of ‘Minova Magic’ is a lighter green color.    -   2. ‘Crasmada’ exhibits larger foliage when compared to the        foliage of ‘Minova Magic’.    -   3. ‘Crasmada’ exhibits a growth habit that is less obtuse and        more pointed when compared to the leaf apex of ‘Minova Magic’.    -   4. ‘Crasmada’ exhibits a more pronounced upward curling of the        distal portion of the lamina when compared to that of ‘Minova        Magic’.    -   5. ‘Crasmada’ exhibits a larger overall plant size when compared        to ‘Minova Magic’.

COMPARISONS WITH THE MOST SIMILAR VARIETY KNOWN TO THE INVENTOR

‘Crasmada’ is similar in may horticultural characteristics to Crassula‘Magical Tree’ (not patented). However ‘Crasmada’ differs from ‘MagicalTree’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. The foliage color of ‘Crasmada’ is dark green, whereas the        foliage color of ‘Magical Tree’ is a lighter green color.    -   2. The leaf margin of ‘Crasmada’ is dark green whereas ‘Magical        Tree’ exhibits leaf margins suffused with reddish brown.    -   3. The growth habit of ‘Crasmada’ is less upright compared to        that of ‘Magical Tree’.    -   4. ‘Magical Tree’ is more densely foliaged than ‘Crasmada’.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Crassula plant named ‘Crasmada’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 